See Archdaily article here : http://www.archdaily.com/621551/njit-graduates-create-a-biodegradable-pavilion-for-sukkahville-2014/

A sukkah is a transient space, where one goes to transcend their spiritual capacity. A sukkah is time-less structure that comes and goes at the user’s discretion. The question becomes how can the material properties of the sukkah become a catalyst for innovative design, as well as fully integrated with nature?

A sukkah is a space that changes over time, but how can that change be translated into something that is one with man and nature. This sukkah explores the usage of a 100% biodegradable corn foam as the primary medium to answer this question.       

The biodegradable skin is attached to the top and bottom of each rib. The panelized system is sandwiched with leaves and various grasses to create multiple plays in the sukkah’s translucency and meditation capacity of the user(s). The tapering form creates one direct view out to the sky, with various stages of opacity in between based off of the layers of corn-foam from bottom to top. The “blooming” form of the sukkah, with its bio-degradable panels foreshadows the natural rebirth of the material as a main composting agent to the landscape.         

The biodegradable corn foam is 100% organic and dissolves when in contact with water. This aspect creates a dialogue between a temporary skin and a permanent framework. One that lets nature decide when the sukkah needs a palette cleanse. The frame stays while the skin becomes one with nature again. The biodegradable foam skin is therefore reapplied by a new user after rain seasons or rain showers.

While translating a conceptual design into a built realization, we quickly understood the design challenges of using an innovative material that degrades in contact with water. The tectonic detailing of how these panels physically connect to the structure    proved to be a challenge, for there was no true way to rigidly attach the panels to the framing. We took advantage of the biodegradable corn foam material properties through observation and experimentation. By using precise amounts of water as a self-adhering agent, we were able to attach the panels seamlessly, creating a unique tectonic inherent in the material.

Reflect.Rebuild.Rebirth speaks to the notion of utilizing a natural resource throughout its lifecycle. This project thinks about lifecycles of a material as well as the lifecycle of architecture over time.

The fabrication process consisted of four main parts. Digital optimization of form, cnc milling walls, floor/base construction, and the forming/adhering of the biodegradable leaves.

Digitally optimizing the form helped in many ways. By doing this we were able to calculate the number of plywood sheets, and biodegradable leaves. This was all placed into an excel sheet parametrically using Grasshopper + Rhinoceros. Nominal sized materials proved a challenged as the structure reached 14’ at its highest point. We realized by setting up a strict workflow, it would help us in the long run with fabrication.

The plywood ribs were CNC milled to interlock with one another and create a rigid system. Vertical ribs were fabricated as a series of individual pieces interlocked and staggered to create on large rib. This was due to transportation and budget constraints, as the project needed to move via trailer from one location to another 600 miles away.

The floor/base construction was extremely important. This was our anchor, holding all three sides together. The base was designed using 2” x 6” studs. The perimeter frame was notched to allow for each of the three sides to interlock and become stable. After the walls were rigidly held, wooden dowels were connected from wall to wall to laterally stabilize the structure.

Each biodegradable panel consisted of (2) 2’x3’ hand-crafted sheets of foam, sandwiched with leaves in between. This allowed for changes in porosity, shadow, and color. Using precise amounts of water these leaves became tactile enough to adhere to the wood frame. These panels were staggered on the exterior to allow material optimization, meaning we were able to use only half the panels and get the same desired aesthetic, which can be extremely difficult to do when working under budget, especially while being environmentally conscious.

Reflect.Rebuild.Rebirth was built around the material properties of biodegradable corn foam. The biodegradable corn foam is 100% organic and completely dissolves when in contact with water. This aspect creates a dialogue between a temporary skin and a permanent framework. One that lets nature decide when the sukkah needs a palette cleanse. The frame stays while the skin becomes one with nature again. The corn foam becomes growing compost for vegetation, which allows for the entire process of rebirth to come full circle. The biodegradable foam skin is therefore reapplied by a new user after rain seasons or rain showers for a different person to use the space a house of prayer.

This project creates a dialogue between installation architecture and the permanence it can have. By using a material such as biodegradable corn foam, people can understand the implications of using unsustainable materials and where they go in their second life. By creating a permanent framework for temporary cladding/panels to adhere, there can be various life cycle scenarios on a static framework.

The implications of this project have gotten us thinking about designing in a way that can let nature reclaim aspects of architecture. Let’s see if we can get everyone else thinking about this too.